Which order initiates development of COAs?

• A. Campaign
• B. ALERTORD
• C. CONPLAN
• D. WARNORD

Answer: (D)

Starting the planning process, the warning order provides enough initial information—mission, intent, and constraints—to let the staff begin developing multiple Courses of Action. It signals that time-critical planning is needed, so planners generate alternative ways to accomplish the mission and refine them as more details become available. This early, preparatory step is what enables rapid, parallel development of COAs before moving on to analysis and selection.

Other orders serve different purposes: an alert order primarily wakes units to a potential mission rather than kick-starting COA development; a CONPLAN is a preexisting concept plan that might be refined later but isn’t what initiates COA creation; a campaign order guides broader, theater-wide actions and isn’t the trigger for starting COA development in the planning process.